The Kuba kingdom in the south-east of the modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo had in the 19th century one of the most...read more
The Kuba kingdom in the south-east of the modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo had in the 19th century one of the most remarkable political system, close to a modern nation-state. A constitution, a complex legal system, a tax system, public services, a professional bureaucracy, etc. Kuba men and women were extremely skilled textile workers, woven clothes, houses and currencies were decorated with rich and complex designs. Most textiles are a variation on rectangular or square pieces of woven palm leaf fibre enhanced by geometric designs executed in linear embroidery and other stitches, which are cut to form pile surfaces resembling velvet. In Kuba culture, men are responsible for raffia palm cultivation and the weaving of raffia cloth on an inclined, single-heddle loom. The cloth is coarse when it is first cut from the loom, so it is then pounded in a mortar, which softens it and renders it ready for the application of surface decoration, for which women are responsible. one of the first uses of raphia cloth was a light portable readily acceptable currency.
This is a cut pile Kuba cloth. Graphically distinctive and richly evocative of central Africa, Kuba cloth is handwoven using the strands from raffia palm leaves. The raffia strands are dyed in a variety of earth tones using vegetable dyes. Historically, the Kuba people have used their cloths as skirts, wrappers, sleeping mats and even currency.
Kuba rafia cloth10.06.681
West and Central Africa | CONGO KINSHASA | Kuba
Palmacea, Raffia, etc.
Collectible (fine or rare example of an object)
Fair condition (some missing, broken or repaired parts, see pictures)
This is a cut pile Kuba cloth. Graphically distinctive and richly evocative of central Africa, Kuba cloth is handwoven using the strands from raffia palm leaves. The raffia strands are dyed in a variety of earth tones using vegetable dyes. Historically, the Kuba people have used their cloths as skirts, wrappers, sleeping mats and even currency.
This is a cut pile Kuba cloth. Graphically distinctive and richly evocative of central Africa, Kuba cloth is handwoven using the strands from raffia palm leaves. The raffia strands are dyed in a variety of earth tones using vegetable dyes. Historically, the Kuba people have used their cloths as skirts, wrappers, sleeping mats and even currency.
This is a cut pile Kuba cloth. Graphically distinctive and richly evocative of central Africa, Kuba cloth is handwoven using the strands from raffia palm leaves. The raffia strands are dyed in a variety of earth tones using vegetable dyes. Historically, the Kuba people have used their cloths as skirts, wrappers, sleeping mats and even currency.
This is a cut pile Kuba cloth. Graphically distinctive and richly evocative of central Africa, Kuba cloth is handwoven using the strands from raffia palm leaves. The raffia strands are dyed in a variety of earth tones using vegetable dyes. Historically, the Kuba people have used their cloths as skirts, wrappers, sleeping mats and even currency.
